Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Atlanta Tea Party Crushed by Obama-Supporting Billionaire?

With as many as 20,000 people in attendance, the Atlanta Tea Party on April 15 was one of the largest and most successful Tea Parties in the country. The Atlanta Tea Party on July 4, 2009 had been expected to be just as large. Unfortuantely, plans have changed. Simon Property Group has forced the cancellation of the Atlanta Tea Party.

The Atlanta Tea Party was forced to cancel its Independence Day celebration in Gwinnett, after losing its location due to the objection of GwinnettPlace Mall (a Simon company.) The Tea Party had been scheduled to take place in the parking lot of the old Macy's building at Gwennett Place since March.

"It is unfortunate the event had to be canceled," said Julianne Thompson, event co-organizer. She continued, "The old Macy's building is on private property, and not owned by Simon Malls, however the mall manager asked the property owner and I to come in the office on Thursday of this week [June 18], and told us Simon does not want political events on its property. They were also concerned about the fact we were using the term 'protest.' Although the event was on private property, the mall was able to assert authority on the matter due to reciprocal property easement agreements."

Event Co-Chair Debbie Dooley stated, "Our Atlanta Tea Party team tried for the next day and a half to find an alternative location large enough for the event, and with the proper layout for our vendors, children's activities, and fireworks show, but we could not find anything suitable that would have been available on July 4th.

...With just a few days left until the Fourth of July Tea Parties begin, this is very unfortunate timing! You wonder why Simon Property Group waited until now to interfere.

WHT: Too bad we're being silenced. The Simon people say they don't want a political event going on near their property, but the Simon family is quite active politically. I'd really like to see this backfire for them. Tea party patriots should be made aware of the fact that they are being strong-armed out of the opportunity to voice their outrage.

HOLY #@*($&)(@*&$#!! You have done some great detective work (and I only came over to tell you your comment about calling everyone senator just so's to tick Boxer off was HILARIOUS!)..

We ARE being silenced and we HAVE TO FIGHT BACK> we have to stop LAUGHING at all of this and DO something..Hannity and Dick MOrris LAUGH, everyone seems to just want to smirk and laugh at THE ONE and how he's killing our country..what's UP with laughing ??

So WHAT if that site isn't good, find another one! Tell them you didn't realize so many people wanted to get together.....'they just happened to all come to THIS PARK' (heh)

It sounds like they've exhausted their resources in trying to find another location that would be suitable for the large crowd and the activities planned. The fact that there are so many other events planned for the 4th has seriously limited their options.

If it had been me, I would have been tempted to file a lawsuit before giving up. But I'm sure Mr. Billionaire could have beat them at that game.

Wars are not won on the defensive, for the aggressor will always be the one that obtains the initiative to decide when and where to attack.

The defender can only remain constantly vigilant, and thus eternally fatigued, in reaction, and only in reaction, to perceived attacks. And by that, the defender will not have the luxury of time to consider alternatives in a timely and luxurious manner.

As you can see, there is a reason why wars are not won on the defensive.

I wonder what would happen if those 20,000 people just spontaneously showed up? Maybe some of them could stand outside the doors of the mall, with signs telling the shoppers how much the owner of the mall supports free speech?

Proof: The Simon folks certainly have the right to do as they please with their private property, and I support that... but the timing of their interference, and the legal jujitsu they went through in order to tell another guy what to do with his property bothers me. Apparently it's all perfectly legal, but it's very disappointing. Imagine the outcry if an "evil conservative" billionaire had done this to a group of progressives.